Tennison Photography, Lancaster
Sept. 29, 2012
THE THEME:
Formal, exotic. The Hershey Lodge became a Japanese garden, awash in coral and gold, with hand-painted lanterns, silk scarves, bamboo in vases and evergreens. Personal touches included origami envelope liners, Lebanese pastries, Vietnamese paintings and a surprise unveiling of the reception room to “The Phantom of the Opera.”
THE RELATIONSHIP:
Catholic and family-oriented, Alex and Mai-Lynn became high school sweethearts despite her family’s boys-are-bad-until-after-college stance. Alex came to all of her soccer games and, to understand her better, taught English in a Vietnamese orphanage like the one where Mai-Lynn grew up. One of 12 adopted by her parents, Mai-Lynn leads a nonprofit that helps families adopt children with special needs; Alex met her at a fundraiser.
THE DETAILS:
A lacy, beaded trumpet dress and veil designed in Hong Kong and an adorable flower girl with a tiara and a white pomander. The bridesmaids in coral, the men in black. More than 100 of their own dahlias, with spiky white astilbe, orchids, gardenias, coral ranunculus, lilies and roses. A tea ceremony and a traditional dance in a second, brilliant Vietnamese wedding dress. Groom-designed rings, incorporating a family diamond.
THE PROPOSAL:
Picture Alex’s mother, hiding in the bushes, chasing people away from the oversized box filled with rose petals she placed on a park bench for her son. Picture Mai-Lynn punching Alex in the shoulder playfully, saying he shouldn’t have gotten her a graduation present, which is what she believes is in the box. Realize she doesn’t see Alex’s mother and doesn’t see the question coming, because there was no small box coming out of Alex’s pocket. Picture her accepting in the formal gardens of Masonic Village, a favorite date spot.
THE GETAWAY:
Mai-Lynn’s father’s surprise: a Rolls Royce phantom, Alexander’s dream car, ferried them to the reception.
Vendors:
THE THREADS:
Bride: In White, Lancaster, www.inwhite.com.
THE BLING:
Koser Jewelers, Mount Joy, www.koserjewelers.com.
THE HAIR:
Jeannette Lynelle Kibler, Tangles Salon, Lancaster, www.tangleslancaster.com.
THE MAKEUP:
Carmina Cristina, Lemoyne, www.carminacristina.com.
THE WEDDING PLANNER:
Susan Moran, That’s It! Wedding Concepts, Harrisburg, www.thatsitweddingconcepts.com.
THE CEREMONY:
Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Columbia.
THE RECEPTION:
Hershey Lodge, Hershey, www.hersheylodge.com.
THE LIGHTING:
Shumaker PDT, Lancaster, www.shumakerpdt.com.
THE STATIONERY:
persnickety invitation studio, York, www.persnicketyinc.com.
THE BLOOMS:
Floral Designs of Mount Joy, Mount Joy, www.floraldesignsofmountjoy.com; trees by Hanselman Landscape, Manheim, www.hanselmanlandscape.com.
THE CAKE:
The Couture Cakery, Lemoyne, www.couturecakery.net.
THE IMAGES:
Tennison Photography, Lititz, www.tennisonphotography.com
